10 Best Detective Duos From Crime TV Shows, Ranked

Summary

• Detective duos with opposing personalities challenge each other and make for effective crime-solving partnerships.
• Crime TV shows are as compelling because of the detectives as the mysteries, with iconic pairings capturing audiences’ attention.
• The dynamic between detective duos, whether it leads to romantic tension or heartwarming friendships, adds to the enduring appeal of the genre.

Crime drama often stars troubled and tortured detectives, but it’s when two detectives with wildly different personalities are forced to team up that the detective genre really reaches its peak. These pairs often begin with opposing perspectives and styles: one may be tight-lipped and serious, while the other is overflowing with charisma and a quirky sense of humor. Often, these duos challenge each other, making both characters question their beliefs and personal life decisions. In some cases, this tension fuels the duo’s ability to work as effective detectives. Other times it leads to heartwarming friendships or even romantic tension.

The allure of crime TV shows is often as much about the detectives as it is about the mysteries themselves. From iconic crime-fighting duos like 1975’s Starsky & Hutch to modern adaptations of 120-year-old character partnerships, as seen in the BBC’s Sherlock, the timeless team-up is a testament to its enduring appeal to audiences. These pairings have appeared in some of the most thrilling crime drama TV shows of all time, and as new shows continue to emerge, there are bound to be more incredible detective duos on the horizon.

10 Crockett and Tubbs

Miami Vice (1984)

Miami Vice revolutionized TV with its cinematic style and fascinating detective duo. The show centered around James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas), undercover vice cops in Miami. This detective duo, with Crockett’s playboy persona and Tubbs’ tough, street-smart New York background, excelled in high-stakes operations against drug dealers, arms sales, and prostitution rings. The show’s distinctive style featured action-packed montages and plenty of guest stars. However, in later seasons, Miami Vice faced criticism for nonsensical plots and recycled villains.

9 Temperance Brennan & Seeley Booth

Bones (2005)

Despite criticisms for its formulaic approach, Bones is celebrated for its character-driven storytelling, especially the dynamic between Brennan and Booth. The show stars Emily Deschanel as Dr. Temperance Brennan and David Boreanaz as Special Agent Seeley Booth. Their unconventional love story unfolds across six seasons. Beginning with clashing ideologies, they gradually develop a deep, romantic bond. Their relationship in Bones defies conventional romance tropes, focusing instead on a profound connection that grows over time, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, captivated by their will-they-won’t-they dynamic.

8 Jimmy McNulty and Bunk

The Wire (2002)

The Wire, hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, follows a police team led by Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and his partner Bunk (Wendell Pierce) as they navigate the complicated relationship between the city’s drug trade and the police. McNulty womanizing and booze-loving ways contrast so well with Bunk’s straight-talking nonsense demeanor. The two bounce off each other so well with excellent chemistry that even simple candid conversations are gripping and full of humor. The two are most known for an infamous scene where they brilliantly deduce a bullet’s path using only variations of the f-word.

7 Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster

Psych (2006)

Psych, a comedy-drama, follows Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) and Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill), a duo of lifelong friends turned crime solvers. The show, airing from 2006 to 2014 on USA Network, gained a cult following, leading to three post-series movies. Its blend of crime-solving, comedy, and the dynamic friendship between Shawn and Gus was a huge part of its major success. The two actors share wonderful on-screen chemistry, bringing something entirely new to the usually cold and serious crime genre. Psych stands out for its witty banter, fantastic acting, and great chemistry between the leads.

6 Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller

Broadchurch (2013)

Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) make up the striking detective duo in Broadchurch, one of the best British murder mysteries. The two initially start off on the wrong foot due to Hardy’s unfriendly demeanor and Miller’s resentment towards Hardy having the position she aspired to. Broadchurch is praised for its nuanced storytelling and character arcs, particularly in portraying Hardy’s character, who is initially abrasive and distant but gradually reveals a softer side, especially in his interactions with Miller.

5 Fox Mulder and Dana Scully

The X-Files (1993)

The X-Files, airing from 1993-2002 and revived from 2016-2018, chronicles the journey of FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they delve into paranormal investigations. Known for its mix of standalone episodes and a deeper mythology involving aliens and government conspiracies, the show evolved from a cult sci-fi favorite to a major network hit. The X-Files, celebrated for the dynamic partnership between Mulder and Scully, amassed a dedicated fan base known as X-Philes, proving just how captivating this detective duo is.

4 Rust Cohle and Marty Hart

True Detective (2014)

HBO’s True Detective season 1 is a Southern noir murder mystery following detectives Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) as they investigate a serial killer with occult connections. Rust Cohle and Marty Hart’s dynamic is one of the most interesting detective duos. Interviewed about a case from a decade prior, the series explores their evolution from partners to strained acquaintances, highlighted by a fistfight in the police station parking lot that ends their relationship. The narrative intertwines two timelines, gradually unveiling the detectives’ personal demons and the impact of the case on their lives.

3 Sherlock and Watson

Sherlock (2010)

The modern BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, running from 2010-2017, features a unique take on the classic detective duo. In Sherlock, the chemistry between the two contrasting characters flows from their witty humor and an entertaining bashing of heads. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes is a charismatic, high-functioning sociopath, wonderfully contrasted against Martin Freeman’s Dr. John Watson, his grounded, humanizing friend. The distinct characterization and chemistry between the two actors adds a fresh, modern dynamic to the Sherlock Holmes franchise.

2 Starsky and Hutch

Starsky & Hutch (1975)

Starsky & Hutch features the iconic 1970s cop duo, David Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Ken Hutchinson (David Soul), who defined the era with their undercover operations in the fictional city of Bay City, California. Inspired by real NYPD cops known for their undercover expertise, the series followed their adventures for four seasons, aided by their street-smart informant, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas). Their dynamic was groundbreaking for the time, showcasing an affectionate friendship between cops that contrasted with the typical macho portrayal that was more common in this era of cop shows.

1 Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler

Law & Order: SVU

Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) from Law & Order: SVU, a show with over 23 seasons, are one of TV’s most iconic and long-running detective duos. For 12 years, the dynamic between Stabler and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) was central to the series. Their chemistry and complex relationship were key to Law & Order: SVU‘s success, creating one of TV’s most captivating will-they-won’t-they dynamics. While there was always an underlying romantic tension between the characters and an almost kiss, the two still maintained a strictly professional relationship.